Harnessing solar power and IoT for efficient and independent South African homes
As smart home gadgets and apps become more common, we’re seeing new, exciting developments that are tailored to improve our daily lives and help households save money
20/02/2024
Following a highly successful year
for solar panel installations on South African
homes in 2023, the blending of technology with
solar energy is changing how we view home
efficiency and self-reliance, says Versofy SOLAR
Co-Founder and CEO, Ross Mains-Sheard. “There’s
an incredible opportunity to combine technology
with daily home use to create homes that are
smarter, more efficient, and more
cost-effective. As smart home gadgets and apps
become more common, we’re seeing new, exciting
developments that are tailored to improve our
daily lives and help households save money.”
These advancements, and the many
opportunities they present, are something
Versofy SOLAR is spearheading through their
Versofy HOME app. “We don’t see ourselves as
just a solar company, but rather a technology
company. Our entry into the home through solar
is just the beginning. Our overarching goal is a
sustainable, economical, and efficient world for
our customers, where waste is minimised, and
energy is optimised. Versofy SOLAR’s value-added
services optimise a home’s energy and solar
usage, lowering costs and boosting efficiencies.
As an all-in-one solar app, Versofy HOME helps
households get the most out of their solar
system.”
Mains-Sheard says a necessary
shift is taking place both globally, as well as
here in South Africa, where the focus on using
technology, particularly the Internet of Things
(IoT), to optimise home energy use is being
taken more seriously than ever before. “Consider
the traditional South African home, where energy
use can often be inefficient. There is a real
opportunity to transform this with smart
technology to maximise the use of solar energy
and reduce reliance on the grid. By tracking
energy consumption and production in real time,
South Africans can make smarter energy decisions
to lower usage and costs, and upgrade their
system when needed.”
This approach to
home energy management is a meaningful first
step towards creating efficient, connected
homes. “Apps that accompany solar systems are a
great foundation on which other technology can
be integrated, including ways to manage and
monitor a household’s water use. As a
water-scarce country, the benefits of this for
South Africa are enormous, and it’s through
examples like these that we see the future of
technology in the home.”
Beyond
immediate energy savings and efficiency, this
vision has far-reaching economic implications.
“Our long-term goal is to reach a point where
homes with solar are more economically viable
than those without. This isn’t a distant dream
either. With a few more adjustments in energy
tariffs, we could be there, leading to mass
adoption of solar technology. It also opens up
the chance for individual households to sell
energy back to the grid once net metering is
introduced. The vision is to reduce the overall
cost of electricity for homes with solar, making
it an attractive option irrespective of load
shedding scenarios,” explains Mains-Sheard.
These technological innovations also align
with global trends in sustainable living. As we
move towards a more energy-conscious future, the
role of technology in enhancing solar energy
systems becomes increasingly crucial. “In the
South African context, this also speaks to
households achieving greater levels of
independence from the national grid through
solar energy. These advancements promise a
reduction in carbon footprint and energy costs
and a significant enhancement in the quality of
life.”